I Don’t Want to Start a Story!

Max pulled in farmer Gill’s old cart with one of the old ladies doomed for slaughter loaded in the back, poor Cran. She gave him a gentle moo, as if trying to appear more sympathetic to avoid her doomed fate. The soft brown face was met with a cold gaze. “Max.” The butcher approached from his shop to take a closer look at his latest order. “Seems like a tender one.”

He didn’t make eye contact as he unloaded the approved old lady and handed the reins over to him. The butcher gave him a small pouch and waited patiently for Max to count each coin. He still wasn’t used to the currency of this world, but the butcher didn’t seem to be in a rush. “Have you heard from your son?” Max’s question was met with an awkward silence. “How’s our amnesiac?” He changed the question.

“Insufferable.”

“Is he still spouting about being from another world, or is he admitting to making it all up?”

“I don’t understand half of the things coming out of that boy’s mouth.” Max wondered if it was due to his accent or the unfamiliar words and ideas flowing out of him. “And he’s reluctant to work.”

A story prompt appeared before him again.

Story Name:

Guide the Uninitiated

Genre:

Isekai

Description:

A stranger is claiming to be from another universe and is here to become the MC.

Goal:

Help the system out and show him the ropes.

Difficulty:

★☆☆☆☆

How to Start:

Confess you are the same to the stranger!

Max had no intention of committing to this story, but curiosity was getting to him slightly. “Where is he now? Is he in the shop?”

The butcher snorted. “I can’t get him in the store… I’ve been thinking about telling the mayor.”

Satisfied with the correct amount, Max stuffed the pouch in his dirty pocket. “I’d give him a few more days. It took me about a week to adjust to Bessie’s way of doing things.”

“She’s a strong one, that one.” The butcher patted Cran to keep her calm in the unfamiliar atmosphere of the busy village. “I don’t know how Billy tolerates her.” Billy? Wasn’t the farmer’s name Gill? “Well, is that you back to the farm?”

“I need to pick up a few things before going back.” Max eyed the village shop down the road. “I’ll see you around. Bye Cran.” She gave a small moo before disappearing around the back of the butcher’s shop with the butcher.

The light tinkle of the village shop bell alerted all within earshot of the newest potential customer. “Morning Liv,” Max greeted the woman behind the counter. Bessie had stressed to him the importance of keeping up friendly relations with the people they did business with. Better friendships, better deals, better partners in crime to swindle unsuspecting customers.

“Morning Max, Bessie’s groceries are in the corner.” She cleared the countertop for Max to lay down the fresh delivery of milk from the farm. “I threw in an extra bag of flour for her,” she gave him a little wink. They both knew she was hoping the next delivery would contain a honey cake. For some reason, Bessie had a special touch when it came to baking. “Bill’s knee still bad?”

Max gave a small nod. It was the excuse that the farmer had given him in the morning. “There’s another batch. Wait a second.”

“No problem.”

When Max returned to the shop with the second half of the delivery, he was perturbed to see Adelaide behind the counter. As he saw the prompt for the story, he considered dropping the milk and walking away. It disgusted him.

Story Name:

My Fair Lady

Genre:

Romance

Description:

The beauty of a village discovers love as she learns there is more to life than her sheltered upbringing suggests.

Goal:

Get married to Adelaide

Difficulty:

★☆☆☆☆

How to Start:

Ask Adelaide out on a date!

“Max!” She cried out in joy as she patted the section of the counter causing her curly blond hair to sway with her enthusiastic movements. Her mother must still be moving and organising the previous delivery of milk. There was little doubt that compared to the disease-ridden villagers, who didn’t bathe enough, she was clearly the most beautiful woman around his age. Having never done a day of hard labour, her skin was significantly smoother and paler. Unlike what is suggested by the prompt, Max had little doubt she was somewhat aware of her appearance and basked in her own vanity. His assumption was based purely on the bright, provocative clothes she would wear as her gestures and voice were hyperbolised to make her seem more special. The spoiled, only child of the village shop. “Put the milk here!”

If Bessie hadn’t had such a strong grasp over his easy life, he wouldn’t have hesitated to leave. But she did, so here he was. “Adelaide.” He greeted coldly as he set down the milk.

“Ada,” she corrected him for the hundredth time, clearly not getting the hint. “How have you been? It feels like we haven’t talked in ages!” Her voice was getting increasingly high pitched, as if she thought that was attractive to a man.

“Alright.”

“There haven’t been any aliens on the farm recently, right? Is it true?”

“…Yes.” There hadn’t been another abduction since the night before the village meeting when Juniper was taken. Who became the main character for that story? Was it the knowing stranger or one of the unknowing members of this world? It was always difficult to guess, and even more difficult to judge if the story came to a successful conclusion.

The bell behind him tinkled. He didn’t think much about it until he heard Aldwin’s voice. “Max!” Crap.